Had an interesting night out testing the Donnay Pro 1 against the IG Rad Pro. Had both of these sticks to try out and make a final decision on which one I'm going to switch to. I had the 2013 APD out with these and a Prestige S. The APD is one racquet I really like for those select few shots that you can completely demolish. But overall, it lacks in feel and just isn't my type of racquet. Now the Prestige S is a real contender. This thing is a really nice racquet, but I don't know that I like it as much as the IG Rad Pro. Coming from some heavier, high sw sticks I think the S is a little lacking in the sw department for me. I'm wondering whether or not I could really get to liking it if I had some time with it though. It really is precise, I could hit the cross court FH right on the service line-alley line intersection around 80-90% of the time when drilling tonight. I don't think it hits the heavier ball of the IG Pro or has as much spin. However, it was strung with some multi that I might break very quickly. I'm hoping I break it because I'd like to see how the S plays with poly. The Donnay I've got has crappy strings in it. They've been used a good bit and it had a tendency to launch. What I find interesting is that when I tried the Donnay Pro 1 versus the Gold, I was wanting a stick that felt like the Gold but performed like the Pro. The IG Rad Pro does it. I think the playtest is going to boil down to two Head racquets. I'm still thinking hard about the 16x19 Blade and trying to wander into the Steam room. But I'm ready to switch racquets now!

The S shines with poly but I found it plays better with the poly string low. I'm full tour bite at 44/43 currently.

The sw is lower than the rad pro but you get so much more stick speed with the s and that makes up for it. It's very accurate and hits a nice heavy ball. The pattern is wide open and it burns strings much faster than the rad pro.

I got mine in September and other than my one week flirtation with the black drive, I've been very happy with it. I'm much more consistent with it over the rad as the sw on the rad can make it cumbersome at times.

Control is excellent and I was able to give my hitting partner a few rides on the rodeo yesterday. No lead needed IMO

The Exo Tour is a weird stick, no doubt about that. I can understand why people would not like it.

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I honestly liked it a lot, just couldn't serve so great with it, nor find the required g/stroke put away power. Seemed to me the ball used to sit up somewhat - though I definitely agree with what you said about that aspect coming over time and practice etc.

I'll always recall scampering around the backcourt like a demented rabbit, points lasting waaay longer than usual, and no matter what I was doing, the ball kept coming back to me!

Nope, not yet. There's a few frames that are potentially more different than my current racket that come before the APD13 on my demo list. Unless the APD13 performs like the PD on serve and has better comfort, or has better comfort & feel than the Formula 100, I'm not likely to switch to it. I noticed the APD13 rated well across the board on serves which is a nice surprise, but the bad surprise is that comfort & feel ratings are at an all time low despite the active cortex...

Nope, not yet. There's a few frames that are potentially more different than my current racket that come before the APD13 on my demo list. Unless the APD13 performs like the PD on serve and has better comfort, or has better comfort & feel than the Formula 100, I'm not likely to switch to it. I noticed the APD13 rated well across the board on serves which is a nice surprise, but the bad surprise is that comfort & feel ratings are at an all time low despite the active cortex...

Re APD 2013, funnily enough, the reduction in SW and addition of more pop may appeal to me. Curious though to hear your feedback on several of these, Ray. Nice list.:wink: Yes, the two Wilsons and the Bab are my contenders too.

^^It didn't feel flimsy if you time it right against heavy hitters but it was hit and miss for me on accuracy. I had too many balls that were sitting up. PP mentioned this in his test as well.

That last writeup in the apd test thread was excellent. The guy mentioned that he usually likes to stand on the baseline and drive the ball looking for a short one. With the apd, to be effective, he needed to drop 5' behind the bl.

That's what I noticed as well. I worked too hard on my game to hug the baseline over the last 18 months just to surrender it back with the apd. So I'm back with my Prestige S. I'm more effective when taking time away from my opponent rather than hitting a higher arcing ball.

^^It didn't feel flimsy if you time it right against heavy hitters but it was hit and miss for me on accuracy. I had too many balls that were sitting up. PP mentioned this in his test as well.

That last writeup in the apd test thread was excellent. The guy mentioned that he usually likes to stand on the baseline and drive the ball looking for a short one. With the apd, to be effective, he needed to drop 5' behind the bl.

That's what I noticed as well. I worked too hard on my game to hug the baseline over the last 18 months just to surrender it back with the apd. So I'm back with my Prestige S. I'm more effective when taking time away from my opponent rather than hitting a higher arcing ball.

I know you are a fan of the apd and I think you will like this one

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APD is a fun racket and I enjoy hitting topspin with it. So, I am interested. Nonetheless, if I get it I dont know if it will be my main racket. I like the mass, solidness and preciseness of the VCORE 97 Tour (330). But, we will see how they do one against the other.

By the way, what happened to Megan? Have not heard from him in a while. Is he on vacation in the Fiji islands? lol

APD is a fun racket and I enjoy hitting topspin with it. So, I am interested. Nonetheless, if I get it I dont know if it will be my main racket. I like the mass, solidness and preciseness of the VCORE 97 Tour (330). But, we will see how they do one against the other.

By the way, what happened to Megan? Have not heard from him in a while. Is he on vacation in the Fiji islands? lol

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Mystic Meg is probably drinking red wine to celebrate the revival of his home town team: Liverpool FC

Put an hour and a half of practice yesterday with the VCORE 97. Just hitting nonstop, not playing sets. Found it a bit heavy for my loopy topspin stokes. Definitely pulling the plug on the 2013 APD and string it with a soft copoly at low tension or with gut/poly.
I will sell both VCORES and also buy a Volkl V1, lead it a bit, and use it as the "rest the arm racket" when the Aeropro gets a bit nasty on my arm.

Put an hour and a half of practice yesterday with the VCORE 97. Just hitting nonstop, not playing sets. Found it a bit heavy for my loopy topspin stokes. Definitely pulling the plug on the 2013 APD and string it with a soft copoly at low tension or with gut/poly.
I will sell both VCORES and also buy a Volkl V1, lead it a bit, and use it as the "rest the arm racket" when the Aeropro gets a bit nasty on my arm.

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Okay, so it seems your experiment with the VC 97 is at an end. I'd imagine it is rather different. Mind you, you can go other other way of course (like me!) and suddenly find you're having the hardest time deciding between 2 or 3 very, very similar frames. Anyhow, hoping to play tomorrow for the first time in a week due to frosty/icey weather conditions here in the South of England.

Okay, so it seems your experiment with the VC 97 is at an end. I'd imagine it is rather different. Mind you, you can go other other way of course (like me!) and suddenly find you're having the hardest time deciding between 2 or 3 very, very similar frames. Anyhow, hoping to play tomorrow for the first time in a week due to frosty/icey weather conditions here in the South of England.

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I am going with two 2013 APDs and a Volkl Classic V1 (99 dollars). Im using a 90 dollar credit and approximately 260 that I wll get from the VCORES. I will loose money in this VCORE experiment.
But, the APD is a nice racket that adjusts to my strokes and game style. The V1 is a pillow to rest my arm and Ive heard it hits the ball really well. Have you hit with it? (see TW review)
And, no Yonex from now on.

"Anyhow, hoping to play tomorrow for the first time in a week due to frosty/icey weather conditions here in the South of England."

No indooor courts where you live? In Puerto Rico its sunny but it also rains alot (the tropic) and we do not have indoor courts.

I am going with two 2013 APDs and a Volkl Classic V1 (99 dollars). Im using a 90 dollar credit and approximately 260 that I wll get from the VCORES. I will loose money in this VCORE experiment.
But, the APD is a nice racket that adjusts to my strokes and game style. The V1 is a pillow to rest my arm and Ive heard it hits the ball really well. Have you hit with it? (see TW review)
And, no Yonex from now on.

"Anyhow, hoping to play tomorrow for the first time in a week due to frosty/icey weather conditions here in the South of England."

No indooor courts where you live? In Puerto Rico its sunny but it also rains alot (the tropic) and we do not have indoor courts.

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Haven't hit with the V1 but it was heavily recommended to me recently and sounds interesting. If they did demo programmes here in the UK like they do in most other civilized countries, it's the kind of frame I'd test out for sure.

Likewise, you'd be amazed by how inaccessible and lame tennis provision can be here in England, where tennis remains something of a sport of privilege and money. I was a member of an indoor club a few years back but it was ridiculously overpriced; so, like many here, I prefer to take my chances with the elements.

Wow, you're in Puerto Rico? Now I'm definitely liking the sound of that B. How's life there? What are the good/bad aspects? Sorry for the slightly naive qsns but I know next to nothing about the place. Is it a real tennis enclave?

I got this racket at a yard sale. It is still in great condition. I put the new poly string in at 48lbs with a new overgrip. It plays very nice. Can you guys help me to find a racket that plays very similar to this racket. I've used to play with the youtek prestige mp but I don't think it plays like/close the I.Prestige mp at all.

I got this racket at a yard sale. It is still in great condition. I put the new poly string in at 48lbs with a new overgrip. It plays very nice. Can you guys help me to find a racket that plays very similar to this racket. I've used to play with the youtek prestige mp but I don't think it plays like/close the I.Prestige mp at all.

Thank you!

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The Austrian made i.Prestige is so unique it's ridiculous. There is a reason why they still make it as a prostock under the PT57E code! :razz:

In actuality, I may be on my way to doing the same. In my failed hunt for another tgk 231.2 I found and purchased a pair of 231.1s at a great price. Standard length, unlike the .2, and even though the .1 is supposed to be softer, to me it feels a bit firmer. Anyway, great stick - lighter than the .2 and much easier to crack angled shots, though the .2 just keeps the ball so deep so easily all day long, and it feels better than anything. All in all, really liking these MG Rad tgks, both of them, each for different reasons.

I did see the new Blades in person the other day. Paintjobs are incredible, especially the matte Tour. And looks like the new Speed will be all black, too. Djoker's gonna look like a bad, bad man with that PJ in hand for the next two years.

^^^ Oo yes now that's a frame I do recall through the fog of my racketaholic past.

Great build quality. Solidness. Swung beautifully. A tad stiffer than it's 'sibling' frames, the PT 630 and Rad Tour TT's etc... and this is a PT57E?

Another bad, bad decision on my part to sell this one. What was I doing?

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BTW, Just remembered that there was a guy on the courts a few weeks ago who was hitting with gigantic spin, a real topspin addict. It took me a little while to i.d. the racket as he was a few courts away from me, but I finally realized he was using an i. Prestige MP... further proof that this kind of thing is primarily about technique and not the frame per ce.

Are the two strings the same basic string with different profiles? How is the firmness and response of either string - firm like Hextreme/Pro Line X, stretchy and somewhat muted like Silverstring, soft & springy like Polystar Energy/Cyberblue/Pro Line 2, etc.?

I have Poly Tour Spin coming in and PTP a little bit down the road. There seems to be the most talk about the Yonex strings here.

BTW, Just remembered that there was a guy on the courts a few weeks ago who was hitting with gigantic spin, a real topspin addict. It took me a little while to i.d. the racket as he was a few courts away from me, but I finally realized he was using an i. Prestige MP... further proof that this kind of thing is primarily about technique and not the frame per ce.

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You know any racket that plays the same/same specs as the i.prestige mp? I hit with it a few times and fall in love with it. I don't know the specs of this racket. There is no spec info on the racket.

Re APD 2013, funnily enough, the reduction in SW and addition of more pop may appeal to me. Curious though to hear your feedback on several of these, Ray. Nice list.:wink: Yes, the two Wilsons and the Bab are my contenders too.

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A friend keeps going back & forth about getting the Pink BLX Blade as a gift, so I just decided to order the demo and filled the rest of the box w/frames I mentioned. Looks like I'll be checking some of those out sooner than later.

If it doesn't suit her I might just end up keeping the Blade depending on how the demo goes. PJ is awesome & more interesting than the gold, imo. Been doing so well w/the firmer control oriented strings & re-worked game that I'm becoming very interested in these firmer/denser pattern frames. Still playing w/the Pro Line X & playing dubs + volleying better than ever. Have gone from erratic at the net in dubs & staying back since switching to the APDGT, to net rushing & attacking in such a short time. A high powered set up at net was just such a bad match up for me, but w/the firmer string bed & lower power, things just seem to be coming back & working. What a huge difference. Pretty interesting to play w/a noticeably lower powered set up in my regular frame, instead of having to switch to a completely different racket that I am not so used to. You might want to check it out.

Are the two strings the same basic string with different profiles? How is the firmness and response of either string - firm like Hextreme/Pro Line X, stretchy and somewhat muted like Silverstring, soft & springy like Polystar Energy/Cyberblue/Pro Line 2, etc.?

I have Poly Tour Spin coming in and PTP a little bit down the road. There seems to be the most talk about the Yonex strings here.

Thanks.

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Poly Tour is plush, medium powered. It reminded me a bit of the feel of Weiss cannon Black5Edge.

In actuality, I may be on my way to doing the same. In my failed hunt for another tgk 231.2 I found and purchased a pair of 231.1s at a great price. Standard length, unlike the .2, and even though the .1 is supposed to be softer, to me it feels a bit firmer. Anyway, great stick - lighter than the .2 and much easier to crack angled shots, though the .2 just keeps the ball so deep so easily all day long, and it feels better than anything. All in all, really liking these MG Rad tgks, both of them, each for different reasons.

I did see the new Blades in person the other day. Paintjobs are incredible, especially the matte Tour. And looks like the new Speed will be all black, too. Djoker's gonna look like a bad, bad man with that PJ in hand for the next two years.

Can't wait for Australia next month.

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Hahaha!

Good call on getting a pair of pro stock sticks. Honestly if they are even close to feel you just won half the pro stock battle. It's partially why I avoid buying them if I can now, as getting a pair and gosh forbid a trio that plays the same at different times is nearly impossible. It's a pretty big investment for a demo frame!

I can't say I've hit with the 231.2's, they seem like they would be awesome platforms and would hit just monster shots!

Are the two strings the same basic string with different profiles? How is the firmness and response of either string - firm like Hextreme/Pro Line X, stretchy and somewhat muted like Silverstring, soft & springy like Polystar Energy/Cyberblue/Pro Line 2, etc.?

I have Poly Tour Spin coming in and PTP a little bit down the road. There seems to be the most talk about the Yonex strings here.

Thanks.

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Have a look on the Yonex site for more info but yes, they do seem to be broadly similar in construction. The blue spin string is a lot stiffer than the yellow though.

Re APD 2013, funnily enough, the reduction in SW and addition of more pop may appeal to me. Curious though to hear your feedback on several of these, Ray. Nice list.:wink: Yes, the two Wilsons and the Bab are my contenders too.

Haven't hit with the V1 but it was heavily recommended to me recently and sounds interesting. If they did demo programmes here in the UK like they do in most other civilized countries, it's the kind of frame I'd test out for sure.

Likewise, you'd be amazed by how inaccessible and lame tennis provision can be here in England, where tennis remains something of a sport of privilege and money. I was a member of an indoor club a few years back but it was ridiculously overpriced; so, like many here, I prefer to take my chances with the elements.

Wow, you're in Puerto Rico? Now I'm definitely liking the sound of that B. How's life there? What are the good/bad aspects? Sorry for the slightly naive qsns but I know next to nothing about the place. Is it a real tennis enclave?

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Puerto rico is beautiful. Mountains, beaches, rivers. If you ever come to Puerto Rico you should visit Culebra, its a small island that is part of Puerto Rico which is the bigger island. In Culebra you can rent a jeep and travel around. Culebra has beautiful beaches, the most known is Flamenco. Also, Old San Juan is very popular where you find the colonial buildings that were built in the spanish dominion in the 1500s.

Puertoricans tend to be friendly and like to have converations. They love to party and have a good time. They are also very passionate.

Puerto Rico has been a United States territory since 1898 and in 1952 it became a Commomwealth. Many say Puerto Rico is a colony. Many want to be a state while many others want a Commonwealth with more sovereignity. Still others want it to stay as it is politically. Others, a minority, want independence. Politics is a big thing in Puerto Rico and some say its the national sport.

Even under 100 years under US dominion, puertorricans or "boricuas" still speak spanish and have their own culture. Salsa music, rice and beans, tostones (made from plantains), alcapurrrias, are part of our culture. Still, there is alot american influence, in good and bad ways.

We have alot of professionals, some study in american colleges. Public schools in general are not the best so I send my son and daughter to a private school. A small fraction of public schools are good but its difficult to get in.

Puerto Rico's economy is not in good shape right know. There has been too much spending in the government and this has been done through loans. So, there is a big debt.

Also, security in Puerto Rico is not the best. There is alot of drug traficking and too many murders. Still, tourists are respected and you dont hear of crimes commited against tourists.

Tennis is pretty popular in Puerto Rico. Gigi Fernandez, a great doubles player winner of multiple Slams, was born in Puerto Rico. Now there is a girl called Monica Puig, just 18, who is very talented and will try to qualify for the Australian Open. She won the Panamerican games and beat Cristina Mchale which is a high ranked american tennis player. Charlie Pasarell was born in Puerto Rico, a great legend who played in Wimbledon and organizes the Indian Wells tournament. A year ago Agassi and Sampras gave an exhibition down in Puerto Rico and it was a great event and I saw them play a couple of sets.

Are the two strings the same basic string with different profiles? How is the firmness and response of either string - firm like Hextreme/Pro Line X, stretchy and somewhat muted like Silverstring, soft & springy like Polystar Energy/Cyberblue/Pro Line 2, etc.?

I have Poly Tour Spin coming in and PTP a little bit down the road. There seems to be the most talk about the Yonex strings here.

Thanks.

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I don't think the Poly Tours are the same. But I highly recommend Poly Tour Pro. Very soft feeling, good pop and spin. VERY underrated string around here.

Good call on getting a pair of pro stock sticks. Honestly if they are even close to feel you just won half the pro stock battle. It's partially why I avoid buying them if I can now, as getting a pair and gosh forbid a trio that plays the same at different times is nearly impossible. It's a pretty big investment for a demo frame!

I can't say I've hit with the 231.2's, they seem like they would be awesome platforms and would hit just monster shots!

-Fuji

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You got that right. The .2, it just hits very big so, so easily. If I stick the racquet out and just barely punch it or block it, the ball still ends up near the baseline. It's crazy. I've been winning consistently here lately with it, even against a solidly better player who usually takes about seven out of every 10 sets against me, not necessarily by passing him but by pummeling the baseline and keeping him on his heels. The .2 LOVES pace. It just zings a pace ball back. Against lighter hitters, I'm better able to create pace with my .1 and find angles. The .2, because it's 27 3/4, I can't generate the same angles out of nothing, but it'll control the depth game all day long, keeping the opponent way back. Here lately, if I'm energized and feeling good, the .2 is, as Mad Dog says, "The Stick of Zeus" and what I want in my hand. Just a boss. If I'm tired and need a lighter swinging frame, the .1 is easier to use.

You got that right. The .2, it just hits very big so, so easily. If I stick the racquet out and just barely punch it or block it, the ball still ends up near the baseline. It's crazy. I've been winning consistently here lately with it, even against a solidly better player who usually takes about seven out of every 10 sets against me, not necessarily by passing him but by pummeling the baseline and keeping him on his heels. The .2 LOVES pace. It just zings a pace ball back. Against lighter hitters, I'm better able to create pace with my .1 and find angles. The .2, because it's 27 3/4, I can't generate the same angles out of nothing, but it'll control the depth game all day long, keeping the opponent way back. Here lately, if I'm energized and feeling good, the .2 is, as Mad Dog says, "The Stick of Zeus" and what I want in my hand. Just a boss. If I'm tired and need a lighter swinging frame, the .1 is easier to use.

Fuji, what's the best pro stock you've ever hit?

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It sounds awesome!!!

I'm not sure, it'd be a tough call. My favourite I've ever hit was a TGK260.2 that was Berdych spec, as he's my favourite player it was a treat to get to hit with his set up. The best feel was definitely the PT10. My mate used them for almost all of juniors and he still has a few laying around that are in playable shape. (He has over 40 "corpses" of cracked PT10's!) It's probably the best "feel" I've ever had in a frame.

Other than that, I really like the TGK 237.1's. Just MG Prestige Mids, but they hit like a brick and feel like butter. Sadly just a bit too much for my back to serve with for some reason, but hitting groundies is amazing. Another cool frame I hit with was the 237.3 I believe it was. The open pattern Prestige Mid whatever that code is (I can't remember exactly off the top of my head) but it was a cool ride. Honestly it felt a bit out of control compared to the dense pattern, but I definitely see the appeal!

I'm not sure, it'd be a tough call. My favourite I've ever hit was a TGK260.2 that was Berdych spec, as he's my favourite player it was a treat to get to hit with his set up. The best feel was definitely the PT10. My mate used them for almost all of juniors and he still has a few laying around that are in playable shape. (He has over 40 "corpses" of cracked PT10's!) It's probably the best "feel" I've ever had in a frame.

Other than that, I really like the TGK 237.1's. Just MG Prestige Mids, but they hit like a brick and feel like butter. Sadly just a bit too much for my back to serve with for some reason, but hitting groundies is amazing. Another cool frame I hit with was the 237.3 I believe it was. The open pattern Prestige Mid whatever that code is (I can't remember exactly off the top of my head) but it was a cool ride. Honestly it felt a bit out of control compared to the dense pattern, but I definitely see the appeal!

-Fuji

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Very nice. So what's the story with leaving racaholic land? Pure Storm Ltd? Epic frame, if so. One of my all-time faves. Just could never serve with it.

JG - I've meant to say before that TGK 231.2 sounds incredible. I still get haunted from memories of my TGK Pres Pro LOL. It's the one that on a few occasions I felt like the frame was otherworldly in terms of its performance and gave me an unfair advantage... such smoooooth power, on a dime control, beautiful solidness... I confess I did scour the internet briefly for info on your TGK and others, though I didn't unearth too much. How would you describe it best?

Ray - I only know the POLY PRO TOUR, and it's so subjective. Many say this string has zero feedback, but I don't know about that and find that to be the case with so many other polys du jour. For me it's softish, has nice medium power level, very nice spin, and as opposed to that meshy metallic feel of, say, Alu or Tour Bite, has a what I'd call a slight rubbery feel to it somehow, something a tad more along the liner of Iontec or even Hexonic (so hard to describe this stuff.) There's a little pocketing flexiness to it. I like it very much in the Juice 100.

Boricua - Thanks for such a fascinating post. I'd love to go sometime. I'm less familiar with American culture but a bit more familiar with Spanish, if that makes any difference? Obviously though it's got it's own unique identity. Interesting to hear of your user name and whtat's behind it. Anyhow...

JG - I've meant to say before that TGK 231.2 sounds incredible. I still get haunted from memories of my TGK Pres Pro LOL. It's the one that on a few occasions I felt like the frame was otherworldly in terms of its performance and gave me an unfair advantage... such smoooooth power, on a dime control, beautiful solidness... I confess I did scour the internet briefly for info on your TGK and others, though I didn't unearth too much. How would you describe it best?

Ray - I only know the POLY PRO TOUR, and it's so subjective. Many say this string has zero feedback, but I don't know about that and find that to be the case with so many other polys du jour. For me it's softish, has nice medium power level, very nice spin, and as opposed to that meshy metallic feel of, say, Alu or Tour Bite, has a what I'd call a slight rubbery feel to it somehow, something a tad more along the liner of Iontec or even Hexonic (so hard to describe this stuff.) There's a little pocketing flexiness to it. I like it very much in the Juice 100.

Boricua - Thanks for such a fascinating post. I'd love to go sometime. I'm less familiar with American culture but a bit more familiar with Spanish, if that makes any difference? Obviously though it's got it's own unique identity. Interesting to hear of your user name and whtat's behind it. Anyhow...

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Very unique culture to say the least. And we are a mini melting pot. Here we have cubans, dominicans, chinese, japanese, south americans, europeans, central americans, americans, spanish, arabs and so on. But, many boricuas are a mix of spanish, indians and africans and are called mestizos and mulatos.
I am product of this mini melting pot. My father came almost 50 years ago from Argentina, met my puertorrican mother and I was a product of that relation.

A friend keeps going back & forth about getting the Pink BLX Blade as a gift, so I just decided to order the demo and filled the rest of the box w/frames I mentioned. Looks like I'll be checking some of those out sooner than later.

If it doesn't suit her I might just end up keeping the Blade depending on how the demo goes. PJ is awesome & more interesting than the gold, imo. Been doing so well w/the firmer control oriented strings & re-worked game that I'm becoming very interested in these firmer/denser pattern frames. Still playing w/the Pro Line X & playing dubs + volleying better than ever. Have gone from erratic at the net in dubs & staying back since switching to the APDGT, to net rushing & attacking in such a short time. A high powered set up at net was just such a bad match up for me, but w/the firmer string bed & lower power, things just seem to be coming back & working. What a huge difference. Pretty interesting to play w/a noticeably lower powered set up in my regular frame, instead of having to switch to a completely different racket that I am not so used to. You might want to check it out.

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I am thinking about one of the new Blade 98's. Before spending $200 I figured I'd buy one of the cheap pink ones to see how I liked them. I am hitting the pink so well I might just stick with that. Super solid feeling and I'm getting great pop on serves.

JG - I've meant to say before that TGK 231.2 sounds incredible. I still get haunted from memories of my TGK Pres Pro LOL. It's the one that on a few occasions I felt like the frame was otherworldly in terms of its performance and gave me an unfair advantage... such smoooooth power, on a dime control, beautiful solidness... I confess I did scour the internet briefly for info on your TGK and others, though I didn't unearth too much. How would you describe it best?
.

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You just described it above as best as I could, to be honest. The term 'buttery' is often thrown around here to describe frames, probably too often. Not here, though. This frame is the epitome of 'buttery' in feel. More buttery and smooth than any single frame I've ever hit... I don't know if my particular 231.2 is abnormal, though, because the general consensus is that the .2 is supposedly more stiff in layup than the .1, and yet, I don't feel this at all. My .2 is smoother in feel and flexes more than my .1 - and I can only possibly explain that by the extra 3/4 of an inch, that perhaps that extra length is 'bending' more on contact than the .1... Or I just have an abnormal frame or something. Because I also chatted with guy who said the .2 he tried once was 'too stiff' for his taste and that Head actually gave Michael Russell the .2 to replicate his Pure Drive stiffness and traits when they were trying to get him to switch sticks -- again, that statement just boggles my mind, and it would yours as well if you felt what my particular .2 feels like.

Gads, how do the TGK's compare to the IG Radical Pro in terms of "feel"?

If they had gotten the SW right on the Pro, it could have been a real beast.

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Totally agree. And actually, there is some relation in feel here. The IG Rad Pro felt like it could be a second cousin to my .2. Not so much a brother. But the flex of the IG Rad Pro was on the outskirts of the feel I have with my .2, but the .2 just feels 'tighter' -- more accurate, and it consistently hammers a heavier, deeper ball. My .2 does, however, share a trait with the IG Rad Pro in that the heftier swingweight can lag behind if you're not fully 'on,' and can at times be more difficult to create a pummeling ball off of a no-pace shot. But against big pace, the .2 just takes it, absorbs it, and rips it back with anger.

Meanwhile, my 231.1 actually feels as if it has a touch less flex than the IG Rad Pro, but again because of the tight string pattern, it's more direct, more accurate in where the ball is going. I hit exact 'spots' more easily, whereas with the Rad Pro it was 'areas' I found myself shooting for. And the 231.1 is MUCH whippier than the Rad Pro. I got it initially with leather grip, and with leather+overgrip it was too headlight and whippy for my taste, I was losing the head. I've since replaced leather with normal grip (or two overgrips), AND put three grams of lead at 12, and the thing still comes around quickly -- and that RHS I can muster with it means it's easier for me to create pace and put-away angles with the .1 than the .2 (or the Rad Pro), even if the .2 is generally more consistent from the back of the court with less effort. If I had the .2 behind the baseline and then could magically switch to the .1 when moving inside the baseline, I'd be in business.

My .1 still only weighs in at 11.7 with lead and damp, my .2 is at 12.0. I might experiment with even more weight on the .1 to see how the two hit at equal weights. The sweet spot of the .2 is ENORMOUS -- hit anywhere on the stringbed, and the ball pockets and shoots back. The .1 sweet spot is smaller, but again, the frame is more maneuverable so I'm just trying to wade through the pluses and minuses of each frame at the moment, but enjoying them both immensely.